Above / The Water Street District along the Naperville Riverwalk is going up, up, up, with plans to open Hotel Indigo this fall. (PN photo July 6, 2016)
The Hotel Indigo-Naperville Riverwalk has named Naperville residents Daryl Barnes and Doug Kelly as hotel general manager and director of sales respectively of its 158-room hotel located in the new Water Street District in Downtown Naperville at 120 Water Street. The two joined Hotel Indigo-Naperville in late April in preparation for opening the Naperville hotel this fall 2016.
Barnes has been in the hospitality industry for 22 years, beginning his career in Naperville, where he has lived since high school. He was recruited by legendary restaurateur Dick Portillo as general manager of Key Wester and assisting in the subsequent opening of Luigi’s House, went on to open Hugo’s Frog Bar and Fish House in Downtown Naperville, and served as assistant general manager and food and beverage director of White Eagle Country Club in Naperville.
Recently Barnes brought his country club experience to the Holiday Inn Express/Comfort Suites in Austin Texas, where he developed the entire staff from housekeeping to maintenance and dining room to front desk. Prior to his return to Naperville this spring, Barnes served as general manager of the Hotel Indigo- Waco-Baylor, for 14 months.
“I am a firm believer in the concept of ‘The answer is yes, now what’s the question?’” noted Barnes in a news release. “I want our guests to know I surround myself with people who exceed expectations and will do whatever it takes to create the greatest guest experience. Hospitality is about making friends, creating relationships that ensure a memorable experience. Those relationships extend to the guests, the staff, and the numerous local organizations that define the Naperville community and make it great. We expect our staff to become enmeshed in the Naperville experience so they can convey that experience to every guest.”
Barnes says his vision extends beyond the guest experience to the community at large.
“Don’t be surprised when you see our Green Team out in the community, sprucing up the neighborhood, volunteering at community events and helping local charities,” he added. “Naperville is special. Just when you think it can’t get any better, someone comes up with the idea for this beautiful, trendy boutique hotel in this beautiful downtown. It’s like the cherry on top of the sundae that is Naperville. We are thrilled to be part of that.”
Above / The view from the Covered Bridge along the Riverwalk at Webster Street shows Naperville Township at the west end of the Water Street District. (PN Photo July 6, 2016)
A North Central College graduate in marketing, Kelly also grew up in Naperville and began his hotel career with Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide as Complex Sales Manager for Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers Westin Chicago River North Complex.
He comes to Hotel Indigo Naperville Riverwalk from Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants, where he was Area Senior Sales Manager and Chicago City Sales Manager for business travel, including Hotel Allegro, Hotel Burnham, Hotel Monaco Chicago, Hotel Palomar Chicago, and was part of the pre-opening team for Gray Hotel Chicago.
Kelly’s efforts resulted in the group exceeding average total group revenue goal annually for the past three years. When Kimpton was acquired by Hotel Indigo parent InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), Kelly was the first employee to transition to IHG, and when Water Street developer Marquette Companies chose IHG to manage their new hotel, he saw the opportunity to break ground in his home town.
“The Indigo high-amenity lifestyle brand is similar to Kimpton,” he noted. “The concept of understanding your wants and need before you ever check-in and offering very personalized service will work so well in Naperville. People who visit and do business here are intrigued with the community and want to know more. In the Water Street District and within just a few blocks, we can offer guests a broad range of cultural, shopping and dining advantages. It’s so much more than the average hotel experience, this truly offers a neighborhood vibe you might find in a larger city. For the business traveler, there are a number of IHG Corporate Gold companies surrounding us, and our robust corporate traveler programs will make Naperville an even more desirable business destination.”
Marquette Companies CEO Nick Ryan stated that he sees Barnes and Kelly as the perfect team to open his project Hotel Indigo-Naperville Riverwalk in the Water Street District.
“We were looking for people who shared our philosophy of a hotel that is completely connected to the community and delivers an extraordinary level of service,” said Ryan in the news release. “We found Daryl in a nationwide search of Hotel Indigo. He is passionate about what he does and truly cares about his staff and the guest experience. He believes as we do, that you need to work very hard and have fun doing it. Doug has great energy and gets the big-city boutique guest experience. He understands that our local businesses deserve respect. Together, these two leaders are creating a partnership with the community. I’m confident they will make the Hotel Indigo-Naperville Riverwalk Naperville’s hotel.”
News and head shots submitted by Deb Newman for Water Street District.
Editor Notes Community Links
Nick Ryan, Daryl Barnes and Dave Miller will present the latest happenings and other updates regarding the Water Street District, Hotel Indigo and Elements at Water Street during the Rotary Club of Naperville/Downtown meeting at 4:44PM Wed., Aug. 3. Guests are welcome. The weekly guest fee is $20 for light refreshments, beverages and an educational program. Meetings run until 6PM and are held at Hugo’s Frog Pond in the Main Street Promenade.
Note also that on Sat., February 25, 2017, the West Suburban Irish will host its annual Emerald Dinner in Elements at Water Street, the new banquet facility. Rooms will be available at Hotel Indigo for revelers to enjoy the entire weekend in downtown Naperville.
In addition, the Rotary Club of Naperville/Downtown will celebrate its 10th anniversary at Elements at Water Street in February 2017.
—PN
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